I just installed all new brake pads the other day and ever since then my brake pads have been dragging. It seems that the caliper pistons aren't compressing back fully. The pads are staying clamped on the rotors. I bled the system thinking maybe I had some air in my lines and that didn't help. I checked the e brake and that's not the problem besides all four are dragging. I have been told it might be my master cylinder can anyone else give me their opinion. Thanks in advance!

 

if all four are doing it, then yes, it sounds like a master cylinder to me. Did you take off the master cylinder cap when you compressed the pistons back in? If there is the correct amount of fluid in the cylinder, then I'd suspect the Master Cylinder. That's my guess.....

 

Yeah I took the reservoir cap off when I compressed my pistons and there is the proper amount of brake fluid in it. Thanks for your help. I am a few more opinions away from buying a master cylinder. Anyone else have any suggestions???

 

another thought, when you bled the brakes, did fluid come out of the nipple without stepping on the brakes? like there was already pressure there? maybe junk in proportioning valve (I know GM has em, just assuming Ford does too) Or, something in the Brake Booster hanging up? just throwing out random thoughts.........

 

Nope I had to pump and hold the pedal down to have anything come out.

 

Assuming there are return springs, are they correctly engaged? Also, in some brake systems, pads are asymmetrical and there might be a right side and a wrong side, which might be a cause.

Also, did you clean everything well? A brake specialist co I used to deal with used to *insist* you needed to replace the individual cylinders when you did the pads, because wear and gunk accumulates on the section of the cylinder that's no longer travelled as the pads wear...

Actually, I seem to remember there was some trick to things, and you had problems with assembly if you didn't do this. Did you fully retract the piston back into the caliper when you took them apart? (I'm assuming that these are disk brakes, or at least the fronts are...you probably need to retract drum brakes too...I see where you mentioned you did retract them, but is there something pertaining to the adjusters you have to reset?

Certainly it could be your master cylinder but unless say, as mentioned, there's dirt or contaminant blocking something, why would it fail now?

Before you shell out for a new master cylinder, just recheck everything, it'd be annoying if this didn't fix it!

 

Yeah, sorry my truck has four wheel disk brakes with abs. Yes I fully compressed the pistons when I replaced the pads. I've done the brake pads quite a few times on this truck and I didn't do anything different this time. So it's mind boggling to me. Thanks for your input I have rechecked everything and thoroughly cleaned everything with no prevail. This is a very annoying problem to me I refuse to take my truck into the mechanic so has anyone out there actually had this problem????? Anymore suggestions? Anyone?

 

did you compress the cylinders by opening the bleeder valves? and did you bleed the brakes afterwards? a fluid flush may remove any blockage that resulted. had the same problem, but it was only 1 wheel from a old swollen rubber brake line.

 

Sorry I had to work at Michigan International Speedway all weekend I just got home today. I got to see the truck series, Busch series and Nextel 400 for free though . But unfortunately I had to work in Jeff Gordons Dupont tent . Why not Juniors or anyone but Gordon's . But no I bled my brakes by having my buddy pump and hold the pedal while I opened the bleeder. I went to replace my master cylinder today and that isn't the problem. It's my brake booster so when I replace it tomorrow I'll let y'all know how everything goes.

 

My brake booster came today finally. It cost $62 for a reman. I bolted it on and the problem is fixed and my brake pedal is actually responsive now which is nice.

 

So...did you cause this problem with the brake booster by bleeding your brakes??? Did the booster just fail on its own? I am on my second F-150 and have not had a problem with this component. Just curious.

 

No the problem with the booster wasn't due to bleeding the brakes. The booster rod (don't know the correct term for it) wasn't returning fully causing the master cylinder to not release all its pressure. The only reason that I can think that the pads just started dragging when I changed them is because my old pads were worn and weren't as thick as the new ones.